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I have sent you a PM Helen

Thanks for making that clear, Alan. Perhaps this helps, it is Pavo as we met her. Helen

This summer we went down the Caen Hill flight, together with Pavo. Sue and Ian were nice people, very proud of their lovely boat. Going down the locks with them was a pleasure. We took some photo's during the day and would like to share those with them. I have no contact information for them. Google gives Ian's surname as Wilson (he won the Boat Handling Competition at the IWA Canalway Cavalcade 2016), but that is all information I've got. Is there someone out there who knows how to contact Ian and Sue? If so, please PM me, I'll be happy to give more information about ourselves before getting their details. Thanks. Helen

Pontoon below Fobney Lock with the cross current coming in under the pontoon Helen

Update on 09/05/2016: Woolhampton: We’re in the process of assessing the damage caused to Woolhampton Lock over the weekend. Engineers will be onsite from tomorrow to decide how best to fix it, and we’ll have more of an idea about the scope of the works over the next few days. We appreciate your patience while we get this fixed, and apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you have any further questions, please contact us at enquiries.kennetavon@canalrivertrust.org.uk Update on 08/05/2016: Aldermaston lock has been re-opened to craft. Woolhampton lock and Woolhampton swing bridge remain closed until further notice.

Update on 09/05/2016: Benham: Divers will be onsite tomorrow (Tuesday 10th May) to investigate the problem, and we’ll have more information on how long it’ll take to fix then. Please bear with us while we get this sorted, and contact us at enquiries.kennetavon@canalrivertrust.org.uk with any further questions.

Notice Alert Kennet & Avon Canal Starts At: Lock 82, Benham Lock Ends At: Lock 82, Benham Lock Sunday 8 May 2016 15:00 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Structure failure Original message: Due to a failure of the bottom gate cill, Benham Lock (82) is closed to boat traffic until further notice. An update will be issued at 3pm On Monday 9th May You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/7889/benham-lock-82

Notice Alert Kennet & Avon Canal Starts At: Lock 94, Woolhampton Lock Ends At: Lock 94, Woolhampton Lock Saturday 7 May 2016 17:00 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Structure failure Original message: Due to a structural failure to the bottom offside gate, Woolhampton Lock 94 is closed to all boat traffic until further notice. An update will be issued at 1pm on Monday 9th May. You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/7887/woolhampton-lock-94 Update on 07/05/2016: Update To prevent craft approaching the damaged lock, Woolhampton swing bridge has been isolated and will not be operating until the lock is repaired. Aldermaston lock (95) will be padlocked shut. Craft should turn below Aldermaston lock (95) and below Heales Lock (93)

Just received the following: Notice AlertKennet & Avon Canal Starts At: Lock 53, Brimslade Lock 53 Ends At: Lock 54, Cadley Lock Tuesday 8 March 2016 11:00 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Water resources Original message:Due to a pump failure at Crofton, Lock 53 to Lock 54 (Summit pound) will be closed until water levels recover sufficiently to allow boat traffic to resume. We apologise for any inconvenience, an update will be issued on Thursday 10th March. You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/6843/-crofton-lock-53-to-lock-54-

Thanks very much, Ray, it brought back memories of our very first canal holiday in 1998. We hired from Adelaide Marine (not in bussiness anymore), went up the Paddington Arm, through London Zoo and up the Lea and Stort. We loved it! After that, each year we hired a boat and in 2010 we bought our own lovely boat, Indulgence. Now we cruise the canals for a total of about 4 months a year. We have really been bitten by the bug! Here are two pictures of that first trip, our children were 6 and 4 and realy keen to work the locks Sorry, don't seem to be able to turn the second photo in the right way... Helen

Just curious: What 'special license and additional equipment' is the man talking about? In the video at 21:05. Helen

We noticed this too. We met several hire boats that stopped and then more or less lost control over the boat. Last October, when we were on the Trent & Mersey, one boat coming the other way saw us, stopped and then moved over so far to the off-side that it became well and truly stuck. The people on board said they thought our (narrow-) boat was wider than it was, and that they were instructed to stop if in doubt. Helen

This came in today... Notice AlertKennet & Avon Canal Starts At: Lock 29, Devizes Lock Ends At: Lock 50, Kennet Lock (Top Lock) Friday 30 October 2015 08:30 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Structure failure Original message:After the recent damage between Lock 48 & 49 our engineers have advised that the condition of the towpath and embankment have deteriorated further, and we’ve had to take the step of closing the navigation until further notice. Although the navigation is closed between Lock 50 and Lock 29, the towpath is only closed between Bridge 142 Prison Bridge and Lock 50. Diversion signs have been put in place. Emergency works to repair the failed embankment will begin Tuesday 3rd November, and we’ll be able to issue a further update then. You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/5393/caen-hill-devizes You can find all notices at the url below: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices Sounds serious Helen

Do'n't know if a river counts as 'the cut' (not, technically speaking, I guess) This is what we saw on the River Great Ouse in July. Helen

Well spotted, Sir! It is indeed Zeeland. We (Dutch couple) fly the flag of the Dutch province of Zeeland as we live in its capital, Middelburg. We often get asked what the flag is and are happy to explain. It always amazes us to hear that so many English people have acgtually been in our home town, often visiting with sailing boats. Helen

Sorry for the duplicate photo's, I struggled with Photobucket. We arrived the morining after they placed the statue. It is well anchored so no danger of it being pulled over. I must say I like it and with it being on the off-side I think it is not a great obstacle for boaters. Helen

Sorry for the duplicate photo's, I struggled with Photobucket. We arrived the morining after they placed the statue. It is well anchored so no danger of it being pulled over. I must say I like it and with it being on the off-side I think it is not a great obstacle for boaters. Helen

I'd say most, not all. When we hired from Shire cruisers, the boat didn't come with a centre rope. Only when we asked for one because we always used a centre rope on the other boats we hired previously, we were given one, with the strict orders not to control the boat in the locks with this rope. Looking at the photo's on their site it seems to me that centre ropes are not standard on their boats. (No naming and shaming intended, we found Shire Cruisers excelllent) Helen

Or even better: Seen on the Thames in July last year Helen

This was the only sign we saw when we crossed Chirk Aquaduct in 2012. Seemed clear enough to me. Helen

And to be even more pedantic, it is The Netherlands Helen

We still have not received a renewal reminder for the licence that expires 31th December. A phone call today to CRT (to a friendly and efficient lady) gave us the renewal number, We went online and were pleasantly surprised to see that our new BSS details were displayed on the screen, filling in all the other stuff went smoothly and we are now hoping to receive the licence disks in the near future. Helen By the way, why are they called 'disks' as the pieces of paper we are sent are square ( at least when folded over)? ( Perhaps a silly question from a Dutch woman)

Ours expires at the end of December, no renewal notice thus far. Last year we didn't receive a notice at all. A phone call to CRT set things right. I am a bit worried though, as we have a new BSS and I don't know if they can find that in the database. Helen

Bump

You mean like this? Taken last year , the CRT boat was there and with our 60 feet boat we didn't have much trouble, though it was a bit tight. (We are the NB on the right) . Helen